AOC/AOP Regulations

Département

  • Hérault, Aude

Communes of Production

  • Département de l’Aube: Aigues-Vives, Argeliers, Argens-Minervois, Azille, Badens, Bagnoles, Bize-Minervois, Blomac, Bouilhonnac, Cabrespine, Castelnau-d’Aude, Caunes-Minervois, Ginestas, Homps, Laure-Minervois, Limousis, Mailhac, Malves-en-Minervois, Marseillette, Mirepeisset, Paraza, Pépieux, Peyriac-Minervois, Pouzols-Minervois, Puichéric, La Redorte, Rieux-Minervois, Roquecourbe-Minervois, Roubia, Rustiques, Saint-Couat-d’Aude, Saint-Frichoux, Saint-Nazaire-d’Aude, Sainte-Valière, Sallèles-Cabardès, Salsigne, Tourouzelle, Trassanel, Trausse, Trèbes, Ventenac-en-Minervois, Villalier, Villarzel-Cabardès, Villegly, Villeneuve-Minervois.
  • Département de l’Hérault: Agel, Aigne, Aigues-Vives, Azillanet, Beaufort, Cassagnoles, La Caunette, Cesseras, Félines-Minervois, La Livinière, Minerve, Montouliers, Olonzac, Oupia, Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, Siran.

Size

  • 4,289 ha

Styles and Encépagement

  • Blanc: 
    • Principal Varieties: Min. 80% combined Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Macabeu, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Vermentino
    • Accessory Varieties: Clairette, Terret Blanc, Piquepoul Blanc, and a max. 10% Muscat à Petits Grains
  • Rosé: 
    • Principal Varieties: Min. 60% combined Grenache, Lladoner Pelut, Mourvèdre, and Syrah (min. 20% combined Mourvèdre and Syrah)
    • Accessory Varieties: Cinsault, Carignan; plus a max. 10% combined Terret Noir, Rivairenc, and Piquepoul Noir; and a max. 10% white varieties
  • Rouge: 
    • Principal Varieties: Min. 60% combined Grenache, Lladoner Pelut, Mourvèdre, and Syrah (min. 20% combined Mourvèdre and Syrah)
    • Accessory Varieties: Carignan, Cinsault and a max. 10% combined Terret Noir, Piquepoul Noir, and Rivairenc

Assemblage

  • Blanc: Min. 80% principal varieties; max. 10% Muscat à Petits Grains
  • Rosé: Min. 50% combined Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan; and max. 10% white varieties.  No single variety may account for more than 80% of the blend.
  • Rouge: Min. 2 varieties (at least one principal variety); min. 50% combined Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan.  No single variety may account for more than 80% of the blend.

Minimum Alcohol

  • 12%

Minimum Must Weight

  • Blanc: 192 g/l
  • Rosé/Rouge: 202 g/l

Maximum Residual Sugar

  • Blanc/Rosé: 4 g/l
  • Rouge: 3 g/l (4 g/l if potential alcohol is greater than 14%)

Minimum Planting Density

  • 4,000 vines per hectare

Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)

  • 48 hl/ha

AOC Established

  • 1985 (last updated 2011)

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